Page 97 of Divine Obsession

I went out with guys who asked, even when I knew I shouldn’t. Smiling to them despite it feeling like work, letting them talk about themselves endlessly –waiting for that spark that never came back.

Men were shit.

Some lost interest before we even made it to the first date. A few ghosted me after a handful of texts, their enthusiasm fading without explanation. Others didn’t bother canceling – they just left me waiting, checking the time and telling myself they were running late until it was clear they weren’t coming at all.

The ones who did show up weren’t much better.

There was the guy who kept looking over my shoulder like he was already searching for an exit. Another didn’t even make it through the night – excused himself to take a call or go to the restroom or something and just… Never come back.

Every date left me more frustrated, more annoyed, more convinced that the universe was playing some cruel joke on me.

I told myself it didn’t matter. I didn’t even like any of them anyway.

But as it kept happening,over and over, I started to wonder if the problem was me.

Was I boring?

Was I bad company?

Or was it something else that I didn’t even know could factor in as a problem?

No matter how hard I tried to rationalize it, I couldn’t shake the strange, lingering feeling that there was more to this than bad luck.

“It’s because of who you are, Nat,” Kali said sympathetically. “Every guy on the East Coast is scared shitless of dating one of Don Moretti’s daughters.”

We were sitting in a corner booth at one of Francesca’s restaurants. Dim lighting cast a golden glow over the polishedwood table. Pasta, iced espressos, and half-eaten pizzas were scattered in front of us.

I felt my cheeks blush. “It’s not like I even want a boyfriend. I just want a one-night stand to get it out of my system.”

“Everyone knows you don’t just fuck the Don’s daughter,” Francesca chimed in. “Unless you want to end up fish bait.Trust me.I know exactly what you’re going through.”

Francesca was a gorgeous woman, yet finding a date in the Cosa Nostra was the same as trying to find a needle in the Sahara. And trying to find a date outside of the mafia? No one was that stupid.

My only excuse was that I was onlytechnicallypart of the Famiglia. And my dad and Ines were way less strict.

“Luckily, I don’t have those problems.” Kali stuffed a slice of pepperoni pizza in her mouth, speaking with a mouthful. “My parents couldn’t give a shit about me. All they care about is my brother.”

She said it so casually, but the mention ofhimhit me like a gut punch. My fingers tightened around my glass, but I kept my face carefully neutral.

“Last time I checked, you were still a virgin,” Francesca mused, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Cause men aregross,” Kali shot back without missing a beat. “I don’t even know why you guys want to fuck one of them so bad.”

We all burst into laughter, the sound filling the cozy restaurant.

I hated that I was still upset. Still angry. Still hurt.

I wanted to believe I was overhim, but no matter how much I tried to convince myself…

Trevor was always there.

Lurking in the back of my mind.

In the silence between their jokes.

In the ache I couldn’t stop.

But none of it mattered.

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